Unit Plan 2 (Grade 1 ELA): Asking & Answering Questions About Stories
Help first graders become confident readers with this “Who, What, Where, When, Why, How” retelling unit. Students practice asking and answering key-detail questions, citing picture or word evidence, and retelling stories with clear beginnings, middles, and ends to build comprehension and fluency.
Focus: Who/what/where/when/why/how; retelling with key details
Grade Level: 1
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Literature • Speaking/Listening • Fluency)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Young readers learn to ask and answer questions while reading and listening to stories. Using the six question words (who, what, where, when, why, how), students practice citing pictures and words to support answers and build a clear retell with key details. Daily oral practice and brief fluency routines grow accuracy, phrasing, and expression.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Ask and answer who/what/where/when/why/how questions about a literary text, using pictures and words as evidence (RL.1.1).
- Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of the central message or lesson as appropriate (RL.1.2).
- Recount key ideas from stories and read-alouds in complete sentences (SL.1.2).
- Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding while developing accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression (RF.1.4).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 1
- RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
- RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
- SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
- RF.1.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can ask who/what/where/when/why/how questions about a story.
- I can answer using evidence from the picture or the words.
- I can retell the story with a beginning, middle, and end and include key details.
- I can read smoothly and with expression so listeners understand.